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National Parks
There are currently 10 national parks in Greece covering 68,732 hectares. According to law, a National Park is a forested area, which is of great interest from the point of view of rare and variegated indigenous wild fauna and flora conservation, the geomorphic formations, the substratum, the atmosphere, the waters and their natural environment in general.
The first national park in Greece – Mount Olympus National Park was established in 1938 with the list of Greek national parks growing ever since, all but two of which are located on the mainland.
Olympus - Pieria
Parnassos – Fokida, Viotia
Parnitha - Attica
Samaria – Crete
Vikos–Aoos National Park - Ioannina
Sounio - Attica
Oiti - Fthiotis
Pindus - Ioannina
Prespes - Florina
Ainos – Kefalonia
Two additional areas have been designated National Marine Parks for the express purpose of protecting endangered marine species.
Northern Sporades National Marine Park
Established in 1992 as the first Marine Park in Greece, it was established to protect the Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus Monachus) currently the world’s most endangered species. Alonissos is the largest and the only inhabited island in the park which also encompasses several smaller uninhabited islands and rocky outcrops.
National Marine Park of Zakynthos
Greece is the only European country where the Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) nest with the Ionian Island of Zakynthos being the most critical habitat for this endangered species. The Marine Park encompasses the marine area of the Bay of Laganas, the sea turtle nesting beaches and a zone of land adjoining them, the wetland of Keri Lake and the two small islands of Strophadia, which are 50 miles south of the island of Zakynthos. The Loggerhead turtle can be distinguished from other turtles by its large head and reddish-brown shell. It can reach a length of one metre and weigh over 100 kilos. Loggerheads lay their eggs during the night and can lay up to four nests per season with over 100 eggs in each.
Greece has also identified 196 IBAs (Important Bird Areas), which are sites particularly important for bird conservation because they regularly hold significant populations of one or more globally or regionally threatened, endemic or congregatory bird species or highly representative bird assemblages.
Rivers & Mountains
Rivers
The rivers of Greece are relatively small, and follow the direction of valleys discharging into Greek seas. They are generally shallow and descend in rapids; none of them is navigable, with the exception of Evros and Loudia Rivers which in certain parts are navigable by boat. There are 21 lakes which total 59,890 hectares in area (and 14 artificial lakes), while the 33 deltas of the greek rivers cover 327,100 hectares.
The longest river that rises in the country is Aliakmon River at 297 km long, flowing across Western Macedonia and emptying into Thermaikos Gulf (Macedonia).
Mountains
Greece is a mountainous country, with over 300 rocky masses varying in elevation. The Pindus Mountains are the principal mountain range and form the backbone of mainland Greece, stretching approximately 160 kilometres in length, they formed the border between ancient Thessaly and Epirus. The majority of islands throughout the Aegean are in fact the mountain peaks of the now-submerged landmass of Aegeis, which was once the link between mainland Greece and Asia Minor.
The highest mountain of Greece is Mount Olympus with its highest peak at 2,917 metres. Other large mountains are Mount Grammos and Mount Vermion in Northern Greece, Mount Smolikas and Mount Tomaros surrounding the city of Ioannina in the northwest and Mount Pellion in the eastern part of the mainland, which after Olympus, is the most famous mountain in Greek antiquity and mythology.
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